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McGowan battling flu-like symptoms

McGowan battling flu-like symptoms

NEW YORK -- Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan was suffering from flu-like symptoms prior to Wednesday's game against the Yankees and was promptly sent back to the team's hotel to get some rest.

Manager John Gibbons believes that McGowan will be able to recover in time to make his scheduled start against New York on Thursday night. If McGowan isn't able to start, though, right-hander Shaun Marcum would move up a spot in the rotation to pitch against the Yankees.

"He's sick, so we just wanted to get him out of this weather," said Gibbons, referring to the cold conditions in New York. "We hope he's still all right to go start tomorrow. If he can't go, we'll just go with Marcum, because it's his fifth day anyway."

Last season the 26-year-old McGowan went 12-10 with a 4.08 ERA in 27 starts for the Blue Jays. Marcum, who is slated to start for Toronto in its home opener against the Red Sox on Friday, went 11-4 with a 3.91 ERA as a starter for the Jays a year ago.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.